The Counter, a gourmet make-it-your-way burger concept, has opened in Irvine at Woodbury Town Center. The restaurant promises more than 312,000 ways to build your burger, with variables including three kinds of meats, a veggie burger, three patty sizes, 10 cheeses, 26 toppings, 17 sauces and three bun varieties. The Counter, Woodbury Town Center, 6416 Irvine Blvd., Irvine, 949-336-7272, www.thecounterburger.com.

The Beach Pit BBQ, which is owned by ex-minor league ball player and Newport real estate developer Tim DeCinces, opened a second location in late January. Located in quaint Old Town Tustin, this Beach Pit BBQ post is a real historical site, the location of California's first mechanic's garage. "The pit," as it is known in Newport-Mesa, serves up authentic Southern barbecue favorites, including smoked ribs, tri tip and chicken. You'll also find hearty entrée salads, smoky baked beans, you-can't-eat-just-one sweet potato fries and homemade banana pudding. They even smoke whole turkeys for the holidays and other special occasions. Like the Newport-Mesa restaurant, this family-friendly spot also has an upscale yet down home dine-and-play area for the kids out back. Beach Pit BBQ at The Tustin Garage, 560 El Camino Real, Old Town Tustin.

The eagerly anticipated Hamamori Restaurant-Lounge has opened. Located in the former Bangkok Four space inside South Coast Plaza's home store wing, the restaurant is owner James Hamamori's crowning achievement. Hamamori has collaborated with chef Takumi Murase, who is known for his kaiseki style of cooking and was previously associated with Megu in New York. The decor is clean and modern, with a distinct Asian sensibility. The menu features many of Hamamori's fusion creations from his Wasa Sushi restaurants. The lunch menu consists of small plates, lunch sets, sushi and sashimi platters and an ozen platter similar to a bento box. Lunch dishes range from $6 to $28. Dinner prices stretch from $6 to $39, with a high of $70 for a Kobe filet steak. An omakase menu is available for $80, and that meal can be accompanied by a wine and saké pairing for an additional $40. Hamamori Restaurant-Lounge, South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa, 714-850-0880.

Taps Fish House & Brewery will open at The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos in Corona. Like the original Taps in Brea, the second Corona restaurant features a full brewery, a large open dining room, an exhibition kitchen, an oyster bar, a lounge and three patios with fire pits. Taps is known as a lively upscale lunch and dinner spot serving large portions of New Orleans-themed American classics and fresh contemporary seafood dishes. You'll also find hand-thrown pizzas and sandwiches at lunch. TAPS Fish House & Brewery, The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos, 2745 Lakeshore Dr., Corona, 951-277-5800, www.tapsfishhouse.com.

Pelican Grill has opened at the famed Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast. While the adjacent resort won’t open until next year, the golf club’s Pelican Grill has garnered chef Thomas Ryan to oversee the kitchens at this oceanview resort restaurant. Chef Ryan’s menu has some traditional favorites, such as steaks and seafood as well as pasta dishes, salads and soups, prepared with fresh ingredients in season. The restaurant’s grand interior is reflected in the Palladian-style architecture and arching windows that overlook the golf greens and ocean blues just outside. Guests can also dine on the outdoor terrace or in the lively lounge. Pelican Grill, Pelican Hill Golf Club, 22800 Pelican Hill Road South, Newport Coast, www.pelicanhill.com.

Yard House has opened its fourth OC location in Fashion Island. Adjacent to Bloomingdale’s, this Fashion Island Yard House features 100 beers on tap as well as the American and Pacific Rim fusion cuisine of chef-partner Carlito Jocson. The restaurant’s interior is highlighted by a contrasting mix of warm woods, stainless steel, art by local painters and an oval bar with a fleet of 100 handles. We are ready to saddle up to this serious beer bar while watching sports on two dozen plasma TVs and listening to a library of over 5,000 digital titles of classic rock tunes, ‘70s disco hits and ‘80s new wave sounds. Yard House, Fashion Island, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949-640-9273, www.yardhouse.com.

The Arches has reopened in a new space at 508 29th Street in Newport Beach’s Cannery Row Village. We’ve heard owner Dan Marcheano has created another instant OC classic with his Texas-style barbecue dishes, along with steaks, chops and seafood. The Arches, 508 29th St., Newport Beach, 949-645-7077.

Flight Bistro & Social Lounge is now set to open in mid October. This Asian-inspired small plates concept is located in the ever-so-unsuccessful space (Blue Agave, Scorpion Steakhouse, AKA) at the corner of Adams Avenue and Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach. Entrepreneur Stephen Chu blew us away with his seasonal small plates menus filled with organic, locally-grown fruits and vegetables, which were conceived by LA-based consulting chef Mark Mittleman (Republic, WEST Restaurant & Lounge, Polo Lounge). Chu says his “extensive wine list” changes seasonally. The decor will be a fusion of contemporary and antique styles in navy blues and grays with a highly modern lounge. Flight Bistro & Social Lounge, Huntington Beach, 714-374-8300, www.flightoc.com.

Izakaya Zero, located in downtown Huntington's former Red Pearl Kitchen, has opened. This new Takashi Abe spot is a departure from his upscale Bluefin in Newport Coast's Crystal Cove Promenade. The word "izakaya" is used in Japan as a general term for working-class taverns that serve shared small plates in a casual environment. Sometimes called "Japanese tapas," the cuisine at Izakaya has been interpreted by chef Abe as "Japanese classics with fusion touches." Some menu items include crab "cigars" (hand-rolled and deep-fried crab, shrimp, and scallops served with spicy mango salsa), yaki onigiri (grilled rice balls), popcorn shrimp in a truffle butter-ponzu sauce, mixed sashimi ceviche, seared halibut carpaccio, Mexican-style lobster gratin and marinated lamb chops. Decorated with strong colors and geometric patterns, Izakaya Zero also features a full bar, a specialty sake menu and a good selection of wines, mostly from California, by the glass. Izakaya Zero, 412 Walnut Ave., Huntington Beach, 714-960-1278.

The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar opens August 27 at The District in Tustin. The anticipation for this latest OC wine country restaurant owes to the presence of chef Yvon Goetz (The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, Culinary Adventures, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel). The interior promises to be hip, lively and sophisticated, with dark woods, leather and velvet bar stools. The restaurant claims its state-of-the-art 5,000 bottle cellar will be one of the largest in Orange County. Open daily for lunch and dinner, The Winery also features a wine tasting bar with a full bar menu. Two private rooms feature handmade doors from Spain, presentation equipment for corporate meetings and one room even has a waterfall and fireplace. The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, The District (Jamboree Road & Barranca Parkway), 2647 Park Ave., Tustin, 714-258-7600, www.thewineryrestaurant.net.

Huntington’s Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort has completely renovated its signature restaurant, bestowing the new name Shades on its oft-overlooked restaurant (formerly Palm Court). While the inside was made more stylish about a year ago, the biggest change is outside, where there’s now a hip patio with an eclectic mix of classy shades. Chef Jeff Littlefield thankfully continues the restaurant’s tradition of market-fresh ingredients and tasty contemporary Euro-Cal cuisine. Shades serves breakfast, Sunday brunch, lunch, dinner and is also adding late-night live entertainment on the weekends at its “Shades PM” lounge scene. Shades, Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714-854-8444.

Marche Moderne, the new South Coast Plaza bistro owned and run by former Pinot Provence chef Florent Marneau, has opened for both lunch and dinner. Located in the former Troquet location, the restaurant also features Marneau's pastry chef wife, Amelia. 3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa, 714-434-7900.

In another hotel restaurant remake, former longtime Pavilions restaurant at The Island Hotel Newport Beach has been renamed Palm Terrace Restaurant & Lounge and redecorated with a Beverly Hills Hotel-style bold tropical print as well as re-engineering the restaurant into more of an indoor-outdoor space. Chef Bill Bracken is still at the kitchen’s helm and has devised some new menu items, a customizable tasting menu and more savory small bites well suited to the lounge. The Palm Terrace Lounge still hosts sold-out intimate jam sessions Wednesday through Saturday evenings with versatile singer Jimmy Hopper. Palm Terrace Restaurant & Lounge, The Island Hotel Newport Beach, 690 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach.

Z Mario, which features traditional Italian fare, has opened for lunch and dinner in the former Chanteclair space across from John Wayne Airport. 18912 Macarthur Blvd., Irvine, 949-833-1900.

Two new restaurants have opened at The Camp in Costa Mesa’s SoBeCa district. 118 Degrees, created by the restaurateur behind Naked Apples in Laguna Beach, brings the raw food movement to The Camp. The restaurant, which showcases natural and organic cuisine in which nothing is heated above the namesake temperature, also features a beverage lounge, live music, organic wine and a smoothie and elixir bar. 118 Degrees, The Camp, 2981 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-754-0718. And Old Vine Café, located in the former Village Bakery space, offers a full breakfast every day from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Lunch and dinner feature tapas-style dishes as well as homemade soups and creative salads. There’s also a weekly wine pairing menu with a four- or five-course prix-fixe feast. An adjacent gourmet store sells wines, olive oils and other specialty food items from around the world. Old Vine Café, The Camp, 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

Commonwealth Lounge recently opened in Fullerton with chef Nick Phelps at the kitchen’s helm. Phelps worked most recently at the company’s sister restaurant, 320 Main in Seal Beach. This new upscale lounge in downtown Fullerton has a nostalgic concept in both food and décor. Commonwealth Lounge, 112 Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, 714-525-8888, www.commonwealthlounge.com.

Lazy Dog Café, a fine dining meets down home American restaurant concept, will open its third restaurant in April. Located in the Stadium Promenade Shopping Center, this Lazy Dog Café will serve a large variety of American, Italian, Chinese, Mediterranean and South American fare by chef Gabriel Caliendo. Lazy Dog Café, 1623 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714-769-7020.

The Ghoukassian family, owners of the Dining as Art Catering Company as well as the acclaimed Bayside and Bistango restaurants, has opened Kimera Restaurant Lounge. Located near the intersection of Jamboree Road and MacArthur Boulevard in Newport Beach, Kimera offers a menu of contemporary global cuisine utilizing fresh local ingredients for lunch and dinner in an ultra-modern setting. Kimera Restaurant Lounge, 19530 Jamboree Rd., Newport Beach.

ENO, a wine, cheese and chocolate boutique, has opened at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. ENO fulfills every gourmand’s dream for the world’s three most decadent indulgences: fine wine, artisanal cheese and gourmet chocolate. The décor complete with a floor-to-ceiling wine tower, feels more like a casual wine tasting room rather than a typical store. ENO, The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, One Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949-240-2000, www.ENOwinerooms.com.

The
newly-remodeled Fairmont
Newport Beach opened bambú restaurant,
replacing Accents. The new restaurant offers seasonal California
cuisine in the same atrium-like setting, but now with palms,
orchids and 20-foot bamboo trees. Luckily, bambú follows
its predecessor in offering one of the region’s best buffet
brunches every Sunday starting at 10 a.m. bambú, 4500
MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach, 949-476-2001.

Celebrated
chef Michael Mina has teamed up with world-renowned designer
Tony Chi to create the new Stonehill
Tavern, a one-of-a-kind dining experience at the St. Regis
Resort, Monarch Beach. Mina's Modern American menu, featuring
his signature small plate trios, allows guests to enjoy their
favorite menu items in three distinct preparations. Chi has
created a contemporary, sophisticated dining room that is the
perfect setting for Mina’s artful interpretations of classic
American Tavern fare. In addition to the handsomely appointed
dining room, Stonehill Tavern also offers an outdoor terrace
for dinner or cocktails while enjoying a Pacific Ocean sunset;
a warm and inviting bar and lounge; and a private, fireside
dining room well-suited for larger groups or business dinners
requiring more privacy.

Park
Ave. serves interpretations of classic American cuisine
in a distinctive setting that exudes a retro-chic ambience.
The restaurant’s combination of swanky old-Hollywood décor
and dishes such as horseradish hanger steak, scallop-stuffed
mushrooms and peanut-butter-and-banana french toast transforms
dining out into the special occasion it used to be. Park Ave.
serves lunch, dinner, dessert, cocktails and weekend breakfast.
To make a reservation or to place an order for take-out, call
714-901-4400 or visit www.parkavedining.com.

Centered
on the cuisine of the country of the same name, Mozambique offers unique dishes using Peri-Peri, a traditional spice. Meats
are cooked in an aromatic wood fire, and selections such as
fava bean and wild mushroom minestrone, sweet potato gnocchi
and Mozambique oyster and fish chowder aren’t too intimidating,
but offer just enough variety and authenticity to be exotic.
Mozambique, 1740 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949-715-7100, www.mozambiqueoc.com.

Dock
and dine at the new Kantina on the Newport
Beach waterfront. The “Nuevo Mexican” cuisine blends
Mexican flavors with influences from Asian and other Latin cultures.
Executive chef Robert Herrera, formerly of the Loft Restaurant
at the Montage
Resort and Spa, prepares breakfast, lunch and dinner. Park
your boat in one of the multiple slips, then choose from indoor,
outdoor patio or lounge seating. Open seven days a week, 7 a.m.-2
a.m. Kantina 2406 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, 949-673-1400.

A
former Hooters in Newport Beach is taking a turn towards sophistication
by being transformed into Kantina by new owner
Doug McAllister (also owner of the popular Sutra
Lounge in Costa Mesa). Slated to open in early January 2006,
the restaurant will be able to accommodate 200 people, who will
enjoy a Latin-inspired menu from executive chef Stéphane
Beaucamp's (also of Sutra). Expect dishes such as sugarcane-marinated
chicken skewers in tortilla soup and mango-glazed pork ribs
with Peruvian potato salad. Hours will be 7 a.m.-2 a.m. Kantina,
2406 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 949-673-1400.

Huntington
Beach can now add an Italian-French fusion restaurant to its
roster. Opened by chef/owner Stef Serafin, Ciao Brasserie offers many standard Italian favorites such as stone baked pizzas
and chicken picatta but also some dishes with a French twist
such as jumbo scallops wrapped with New York steak in a Dijon
Pommery sauce and filet mignon with gorganzola cream sauce.
Très bon e buono! 7568 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach,
714-848-9385.

Residents
of Lake Forest now have one more choice for casual upscale dining:
the Corner Broiler. This cozy yet classy restaurant
and bar opened very recently, and is still ironing out a few
final kinks, but happy to welcome customers nonetheless. Corner
Broiler, 24301 Muirlands Blvd., Lake Forest.

A
splashy new Italian restaurant with an elegant dining room,
an extensive menu and an adjacent nightclub, Bellagio is out to woo North County palates—and wallets. Definitely
worth checking out, even if only for a drink and a look around.
Bellagio, 12361 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, 714-971-8250.

Takashi
Abe fans have waited a while to get a taste of the former Matsuhisa chef’s cuisine. After Restaurant Abe was sold, people
were told that Bluefin by Abe would open in
May in the Crystal Cove Promenade. That month has come and gone,
and we still hear rumors that the elegant Asian fusion restaurant
will soon open. Stay tuned.

Arizona
restaurant group Mastro’s is set to open Mastro’s
Ocean Club Fish House in Newport Beach in August. This
upscale seafood restaurant will be the first of three Mastro’s
restaurants to open in Southern California in 2005, though not the
first ever—there’s already a Mastro’s Steakhouse
in Beverly Hills. Mastro’s Ocean Club Fish House, 8112 E.
Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, 949-376-6990.

The
owner of Sutra
Lounge in Triangle Square is opening Kantina,
a Nuevo Latino restaurant with the same upscale lounge vibe, in
late summer. Stephane Beauchamp, chef at Sutra Lounge, is also heading
up the kitchen at Kantina until further notice. Kantina, 2406 Newport
Blvd., Newport Beach, 949-722-7103.

Mozambique,
offering steaks and seafood without the soupçon of danger
found in its namesake African island nation, is set to open in the
historic Tortilla Flats building this summer. Mozambique, 1740 South
Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, 949-715-7777.

Wine
buffs have a lot to be happy about these days. Yet another wine
shop and tasting bar is opening up in OC—this time, in the
small community of Ladera Ranch. The Reserve Wine Bar and
Shop is committed to offering the best prices and the friendliest
environment. The Reserve Wines, 25642 Crown Valley Pkwy, Suite E5,
Ladera Ranch, 949-276-5688.We
can barely keep up with Culinary Adventures—and in this, we’re
not alone. The buzz about Rouge hasn’t even begun to die down, but already, this dynamic restaurant
group is planning its next venture: French 75 Brasserie,
set to open at the Tustin Marketplace sometime this year.

Score
another for San Clemente. White Horses Restaurant &
Bar, an unpretentious Continental bistro with a very eclectic
menu and a lovely dining room, quietly opened this spring. The contemporary
cuisine is delectable and the overall experience quite poetic. White
Horses, 610 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, 949-429-1800

Ten
Restaurant Group debuted its latest hot spot in early January,
and you could hear the oohs and ahhs of appreciation from miles
away. This place epitomizes the glamorous, more-is-more, worldly
but never edgy style that Orange County loves so much. Ten is actually
three places in one: elegant Ten Asian Bistro, club-alicious Ten
Ultra Lounge, and comfy little Café Panini, where you can
go get real food if the nouveau Asian nibbles don’t satisfy
you. 4647 MacArthur Blvd. Newport Beach, 949-660-1010.

Chakra
Indian Cuisine has opened at the University Center. This
place is groovy as can be and if you show up after dinner’s
over, you’ll be “chak’d” to find that it
has turned into a nightspot. Chakra Indian Cuisine, 4143 Campus
Dr., Irvine, 949-854-0009, www.chakracuisine.com.

There’s
a new Panera Bread Bakery-Café location
in Irvine at the Crossroads Shopping Center. This is the chain’s
third Orange County branch, and we’re betting it’s far
from the last. Panera Bread Bakery-Café, 3988 Barranca Pkwy.,
Irvine, 949-786-8800.

Slated for an August opening in The Old Pottery Place, a new ocean-view
complex on the landmark site of Laguna Beach’s historic Pottery
Shack, is Sapphire Laguna, serving lunch Monday-Friday,
dinner nightly and brunch Saturday-Sunday. Owner/chef Azmin Ghahreman,
who most recently manned the kitchens as executive chef at the St.
Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point, plans to
serve food inspired by cuisines from around the world, including
such specialties as grilled Moroccan-style baja jumbo shrimp, wok-fried
baby snapper with Thai chili-lemongrass sauce, braised prime short
ribs and chicken pot pie. The main dining room will seat 60, the
outdoor bi-level terrace will welcome another 38 guests and walk-in
wine cellars will hold up to 700 bottles. Adjoining the restaurant
will be a 930-square-foot gourmet shop. Sapphire Laguna, 1200 S.
Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach.

Charles Nelson and wife Candace are expanding from Beverly Hills
to Orange County, opening a branch of their insanely popular Sprinkles
Cupcakes in Corona Del Mar Plaza on August 14. Expect a
menu identical to the original. Sprinkles Cupcakes, 800 Avocado
Ave., Corona Del Mar.

For
some reason, the space at Beach Boulevard and Adams Avenue in Huntington
Beach cannot keep a permanent resident. Stung by the oft-abandoned
location is Scorpion Steakhouse, which closed this spring. Alas,
someone always seems to try, try again. This summer, the Aka
Japanese Cuisine & Lounge opened its doors. The smoldering
modern interior harkens hipsters to enjoy its cocktails, sushi bar
and tempting dessert menu. Aka Japanese Cuisine & Lounge, 8082
Adams Ave., Huntington Beach, 714-374-9600.

Zov’s Karamardian of Zov’s
Bistro in Tustin is opening two new restaurants. The
first location will open in Newport Coast this spring, followed
by an Irvine location at Orchard Hills Village Center in the fall.
Both restaurants will feature a modified version of Zov’s
Mediterranean-inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Zov's
Bistro, 17440 E. 17th St., Tustin, 714-838-8855.

The Pinnacle Restaurant at Temecula’s Falkner Winery
opened on Sept. 2. The American-Mediterranean menu serves lunch
daily in a panoramic hilltop view setting amongst the winery’s
vines. So far, the restaurant is only available in the evenings
for weddings and banquets. The Falkner’s have brought in chefs
E. Dennis van Rumund (formerly owner of Fallbrook’s Lace Apron)
and Cory Chung, formerly of Escondido’s California Center
for the Arts. The Pinnacle Restaurant, Falkner Winery, 40620 Calle
Contento, Temecula, 951-676-8231.

Re-invented
yet again is the space in Fashion Island formerly known as Rouge
Bistro. Now re-named French 75 by David Wilhelm’s
Culinary Adventures group, the “new” restaurant is now
part of the French 75 brand, which includes the original restaurant
in Laguna Beach as well as outposts in The Marketplace (Irvine),
Burbank and Century City. French 75, 327 Newport Center Dr., Newport
Beach, 949-640-2700.

The
newly opened Oasis Grill & Sky Lounge at the
John Wayne Airport, from Culinary Adventures' David Wilhelm, features
a Jetsons-themed décor with bright orange booths, futuristic
light fixtures, and American fare for breakfast and lunch. Oasis
Grill & Sky Lounge, John Wayne Airport, 949-252-6125.

The
Wyndham Orange County Hotel, located across the street from the
new Cesar Pelli-designed Orange County Performing Arts Center, has
revamped its TerraNova Dining Room. Former St.
Regis chef Azmin Ghahreman helped create the brasserie-style breakfast,
lunch and dinner menus. At lunch, there’s an all-you-can-eat
pasta bar. For dinner, choose from grilled meats, fresh seafood
or seasonal specialties. TerraNova Dining Room, The Wyndham Orange
County Hotel, 3350 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa, 714-751-5100.

Sapphire
Laguna, once slated for an August opening, will finally
open in December. Located in The Old Pottery Place, this new ocean-view
complex sits on the landmark site of Laguna Beach’s historic
Pottery Shack. Owner/chef Azmin Ghahreman, who most recently manned
the kitchens as executive chef at the St.
Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point, plans to
serve food inspired by cuisines from around the world, including
grilled Moroccan-style Baja jumbo shrimp, wok-fried baby snapper
with Thai chili-lemongrass sauce, braised prime short ribs and chicken
pot pie. The main dining room will seat 60, the outdoor bi-level
terrace will welcome another 38 guests, and walk-in wine cellars
will hold up to 700 bottles. Adjoining the restaurant will be a
930-square-foot gourmet shop. The restaurant will serve lunch Mon.-Fri.,
dinner nightly and brunch Sat.-Sun. Sapphire Laguna, 1200 S. Coast
Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949-715-9888.
Irvine's Quail Hill Village Center is fast becoming a mecca for
foodies. The latest opening is Crystal Jade Asian Fine Dining,
which sits right next to Euro-bistro Lucca Café and across from top-notch wine bar Bacchus’
Secret Cellar. Crystal Jade features dishes from all over Asian
including China, Malaysia, Japan and Thailand. Dishes range from
Cantonese-style dim sum to cream cheese eggrolls to chicken satay
to Kung pao squid. Crystal Jade, Quail Hill Village Center, 6511
Quail Hill Pkwy., 949-725-3368.

Sapphire
Laguna has begun accepting reservations.
Located in The Old Pottery Place, this new ocean-view complex
sits on the landmark site of Laguna Beach’s historic Pottery
Shack. Owner-chef Azmin Ghahreman, who most recently manned
the kitchens as executive chef at the St.
Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa, plans to serve food
inspired by cuisines from around the world, including such specialties
as grilled Moroccan-style baja jumbo shrimp, wok-fried baby
snapper with Thai chili-lemongrass sauce, braised prime short
ribs and chicken pot pie. The main dining room will seat 60,
the outdoor bi-level terrace will welcome another 38 guests
and walk-in wine cellars will hold up to 700 bottles. Adjoining
the restaurant will be a 930-square-foot gourmet shop. Most
of the other shops (an art gallery, chocolate shop, shoe salon
and a lovely book store) in The Old Pottery Place are already
open for business. The restaurant will serve lunch Mon.-Fri.,
dinner nightly and brunch Sat.-Sun. Sapphire Laguna, 1200 S.
Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949-715-9888.

Chris
and Dennis Overstreet of Le Quai and The Wine Merchant of Beverly
Hills recently re-opened the restaurant formerly known as Aubergine.
Now called 50829, the eatery serves more casual
European and contemporary fare in the modern cottage on a quiet
street in Newport’s Cannery Village district. The restaurant
is open Tues.-Sat. starting at 5 p.m. 50829, 508 29th St., Newport
Beach, 949-723-4150.

The
Melting Pot opened its second Orange County location
in San Clemente. Mother-daughter restaurateurs Mira Selbo and
Dana Tanner opened their first Melting Pot location in Irvine.
They plan to open a third location this spring in Downtown Brea.
The Melting Pot, 647 Camino de los Mares, San Clemente, 949-661-1966, www.meltingpot.com.

Changes

Joshua
Nudd, previously of Hoku’s in Honolulu, has been named chef de cuisine at Pavilion,
the fine dining establishment at The
Island Hotel in Newport Beach. So far, there are no changes
to executive chef Bill Bracken’s menu. Pavilion, 690 Newport
Center Dr., Newport Beach, 949-760-4920.

Restaurateurs
Tim and Liza Goodell (Troquet, Red
Pearl Kitchen, Dakota)
have sold The Lodge in Costa Mesa to Michael Bassler
and Troy Furuto, who plan on reopening it under a different name.
The Goodells plan on opening another Red Pearl Kitchen in San Diego
in January 2006.

It’s been a tumultuous time for casino restaurants. Morongo Casino in Indio Valley abruptly bid adieu
to its erstwhile culinary partner N9NE Group in late May, reopening
each of the former N9NE-managed venues under a different name, similar
concept and tribal management almost immediately thereafter. Morongo
Casino, 49500 Seminole Dr., Cabazon, 888-MORONGO.

A new chef has arrived at Great Oak Steakhouse in Pechanga Casino. Brian Johnston has revamped the menu, introducing
some new main courses featuring buffalo and venison. Great Oak Steakhouse,
Pechanga Casino, 45000 Pechanga Pkwy., Temecula, 909-719-8594.

South
County’s popular Salt
Creek Grille has undergone some major changes, starting with
the hiring of new chef Scott Floyd, and continuing with a complete
menu overhaul, a staff shakedown, and a new commitment to cook everything
from scratch. Salt Creek Grille, 32802 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana
Point, 949-661-7799.

Over
in Fullerton, neighborhood fave Il Ghiotto changed
its name to the more abbreviated and New World-glamorous Spadra.
The cuisine remains the same. Spadra, 136 E. Commonwealth, Fullerton,
714-447-0775.

Patina Nabs OCPAC Contract
The Patina Group will open Leatherby’s Café Rouge on
Sept. 23. Located inside the Orange County Performing Arts Center’s
new Segerstrom Concert Hall, Leatherby’s seats 130 guests.
In addition, Patina Group’s exclusive contract to provide
food and beverage service at the nationally-acclaimed center includes
space for events in the atrium-style concert hall lobby, a 64,000-square-foot
outdoor plaza and terrace. For information on catering and special
events at the center, call 714-556-2122.

Blue Coral Seafood & Spirits opened August
1 with a lavish grand opening party. Located in Fashion Island next
to Fleming’s (and also owned by the same group), Blue Coral
features classic updates of fresh seafood. The turquoise and warm
wood décor is sumptuous, the blue-hued bar features a “vodka
wall” of more than 60 vodkas from around the world and the
restaurant also has one of Newport Beach’s loveliest patios.
There are “seafood-friendly” wines by the glass and
a special reserve wine list. Some of Blue Coral’s ongoing
specialties include carpaccio niçoise, crab trio, caviar
service with StoliElit vodka, Maine lobster en fuego, seabass en
papillote and lobster macaroni and cheese. Open for lunch and dinner
daily. Blue Coral Seafood & Spirits, 451 Newport Center Dr.,
Newport Beach, 949-856-2583.

After
months of renovation, the Disneyland Resort has completely redesigned
the décor and menu offerings at two of its restaurants. Yamabuki,
in the Paradise
Pier Hotel, features fresh sushi and Japanese fare and now offers
a four-course "imperial menu.” The kitchen is headed
by chef Katsuhiko Sato. Yamabuki, Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel,
1717 S. Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, 714-999-0990.

The
former Granville's at the Disneyland
Hotel is now Steakhouse 55 and Lounge at Steakhouse
55. The décor evokes a Hollywood glamour feel, and
the menu features steakhouse fare like herb-crusted rack of lamb
and a dry-rubbed grilled rib eye. The kitchen is helmed by chef
Jason Martin. The sumptuous Lounge at Steakhouse 55 has velvet and
leather chaise lounges, heavy drapery and black marble tables, and
features a menu with crab cakes, smoked ahi, pizzetta and artisan
cheeses. Steakhouse 55, Disneyland Hotel 1150 Magic Way, 714-778-6600.

Longtime
Pinot Provence chef and Patina Group protégée Florent
Marneau is moving across the street this spring to open his own
bistro in the former Troquet location, once a Goodell OC icon. Marneau
and his wife are calling the restaurant Marché Moderne.
Marché Moderne, Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol Street, Third Level
near Nordstrom.

Morton’s
The Steakhouse opened its second Orange County location
in Anaheim. The menu and décor approximate the classic steakhouse
vibe from its other restaurants. There’s also a large bar
with plasma TVs and a private dining room, which can seat up to
72 guests. Morton’s The Steakhouse, 1895 S. Harbor Blvd.,
Anaheim, 714-621-0101.

The
Yard House,
an award-winning brewery and California cuisine spot popular with
singles, is opening this summer at Fashion Island. The Fashion Island
location is set to feature 100 taps of beer. Fashion Island, 401
Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, 949-721-2000.

Red Pearl Kitchen in Huntington Beach, owned by the Goodell duo of Tim and Liza, sold the restaurant to the owners of Takashi Abe's Bluefin sushi restaurant. Bluefin co-owner Ted Lee says the former Red Pearl Kitchen will re-opened with minimal décor changes but with a new concept–as a Japanese tavern known as Izakaya Zero.

Hamburger Mary’s in Newport Beach recently closed. It seems owner Stan Sax, who has five other burger joints across the country, was made a sizable offer by unnamed OC restaurateurs for this desirable location.

The
Island Hotel Newport Beach’s
restaurant Pavilion, and adjacent Gardens Lounge,
will close in mid-April to undergo a renovation
and name change. The
new restaurant and lounge, called “The
Palm Terrace Restaurant & Lounge,” is slated for
a June 10 opening and will remain under the direction of executive
chef Bill Bracken.

Longtime Pinot
Provence chef and Patina Group protégée Florent
Marneau is moving across the street this spring to open
his own bistro in the former Troquet location, once a Goodell Orange
County icon. Marneau and his pastry chef wife, Amelia, are calling
the restaurant Marché Moderne.

Surprisingly, Hard Rock Café in Newport’s Fashion
Island shut its doors at the end of June, with no word as to when
or where it would open another Orange County location.
Hard Rock Café, 451 Newport Center Dr, Fashion Island, Newport
Beach.

Much to the chagrin of local golfers, the Irvine
Company recently announced that Pelican Hill Golf Club will close for two years so that developers can build the highly
anticipated Pelican Hill Resort next door. Pelican
Hill Golf Club, 22651 Pelican Hill Rd., Newport Beach, 949-760-0707.

Two
popular restaurant/live music venues, Kikuya and Crazy Horse, bid farewell to Orange County this
summer, much to the dismay of music fans.

Once OC’s top restaurant, Newport Beach’s Aubergine opened and then closed within just a few months. Brilliant ex-Troquet chef David Man suddenly pulled out of the shaky venture, which was
run by the Overstreet family of Le Quai fame. The Overstreets now
claim Aubergine is not closed, but is just experiencing an “intermission.”
Hopefully, Chef Man will once again set up shop somewhere in OC
as he is one of the region’s top contemporary cuisine chefs.

Longtime
downtown Laguna Beach restaurant, The Jolly Roger,
closed in October after more than 50 years at this historic Pacific
Coast Highway location. As reported by the "Laguna Beach Coastline
Pilot," the restaurant closed after losing its liquor license
and businessman Sam Goldstein subsequently bought the building for
more than $11 million.

Wilhelm Launches Economic Stimulus Package
Need to tighten your wallet a bit? Famed OC restaurateur David Wilhelm has launched his very own “economic stimulus package” at all of his Culinary Adventures restaurants in OC (Savannah Supper Club & Lounge Costa Mesa, Savannah Steak & Chop House Laguna Niguel, French 75 Laguna Beach, French 75 Fashion Island, French 75 Tustin Marketplace, Sorrento Grill Laguna Beach). It seems Wilhelm is going “back to basics” by offering lunch and dinner options at very reasonable prices. According to the guru of dining economy, Wilhelm’s “appetite stimulus/easy-on-the-wallet package” will be an integral part of his menu offerings this year.

New Sommelier and Cheesemonger Team Up at ENO ENO, OC’s premier wine, cheese and chocolate tasting room at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, has announced the arrival of a new sommelier, Kevin Anderson, along with Jason Truckermiller, who is the new cheesemonger. ENO also recently opened a new location at San Diego’s Hotel del Coronado. ENO, The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, 949-240-2000.

NYC in the OCExpect a March opening for chef-partner Stephane Beaucamp and his Manhattan Supper Club, which is located in Orange’s hot Main Street district. Owner Anthony Paduano brings in manager-partner Carlos Miranda to head up what seems to be a New York-meets-Vegas steakhouse and entertainment lounge. Manhattan Supper Club, 202 S. Main St., Orange, 714-978-6161, www.manhattansupperclub.com.

Bluewater Grill on the Move
Bluewater Grill has closed its South Coast Plaza Village location and is reopening in March at Tustin’s The District. A true seafood restaurant, Bluewater Grill offers a fresh seafood menu for both lunch and dinner, as well as a kid’s menu, oyster bar, patio dining and full bar with a decent wine list. Bluewater Grill also makes all of its chowders, soups, dressings and sauces each day in house. Bluewater Grill, The District at Tustin Legacy, 2409 Park Ave., Tustin, 714-258-3474, www.bluewatergrill.com.

Champagne Brunch at Flight Bistro & Social LoungeFlight Bistro & Social Lounge in Huntington Beach is now offering a Sunday Champagne Brunch starting at $25. The Classic Champagne Brunch includes a choice of a starter, main course and unlimited Champagne. Diners can also indulge in a Premium Champagne Brunch for $115 (with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot or Moët, White Star). Selections from the brunch menu, such as eggs Benedict, Portobello mushroom panini, and spicy Italian sausage flatbread, may also be ordered a la carte. Flight Bistro & Social Lounge, 8082 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach, 714-374-8300.

Sunday Brunch at Lucca CaféLucca Café, an upscale Euro bistro located in Irvine’s Quail Hill Village Center, is now offering Sunday brunch. Chef Cathy Pavlos and her crew cook up a gourmet Euro-American buffet brunch using seasonal and imported ingredients every Sunday. There’s an egg and omelet station, a carving station with certified Angus beef tri tip and Diestel free-range turkey breast. You’ll also find plentiful cold salads, hot pastas and desserts. The cost is $22 per person ($26 with two glasses of Champagne). Children 12 and under cost $15. Lucca Café, Quail Hill Village Center, 6507 Quail Hill Pkwy., Irvine, 949-725-1773.

Culinary Coach Comes to the OCChef Gregg Denter has brought his Culinary Coach business to Orange County. Denter, who has cooked at resorts including The Lodge at Pebble Beach and Carmel Valley Ranch, offers in-home cooking classes for groups and individuals. Chef Denter also offers a “phantom” cook service, where he caters a meal out of your kitchen without your guests knowing a private chef did the cooking. For more information, call 831-601-0933 or visit www.myculinarycoach.com.

Yard House’s Happy HourLooking for a new late-night spot? Yard House, with three locations in OC, is now offering a late-night happy hour Sundays through Wednesdays from 10 p.m. to midnight. Select appetizers are half price when the lights go down and the music gets loud here, plus domestic brews are just $3.25 a pint and martinis are $5.50. Wines are discounted $2 per glass. For more information, call 949-727-0959.

Mina Meets ArizonaMichael Mina, whose restaurants include Stonehill Tavern in Dana Point, announced
plans to open Bourbon Steak at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Arizona. Opening in February 2008, this contemporary American steakhouse will offer Angus beef, American and Japanese Kobe beef in prime cuts including rib-eye, filet mignon, and flat iron steak, served with side dishes like blue-cheese scalloped potatoes, duck fat fries and spinach soufflé. Some of Mina's seafood dishes will include lobster pot pie, king salmon and bacon-wrapped Chilean sea bass. For the design, indigenous Southwest materials will be featured, such as flagstone and redwood and juniper woods. For more information, visit www.michaelmina.net.

No More Noir
In a bold move, Chat Noir has become Savannah Steak & Chop House. Perhaps David Wilhelm and his Culinary Adventures see an opportunity to compete better with neighboring Mastro’s Steakhouse. Culinary Adventures’ original Savannah Steak & Chop House is a Laguna Niguel institution with lively regulars, over-the-top service and Southern-themed contemporary cuisine with a California twist. And in yet more news, it seems Culinary Adventures’ four French 75 locations (Laguna Beach, Fashion Island, Burbank, Century City) will soon be renamed Bistro 75.

Bootleggers Come to Crystal CoveThe Beachcomber at Crystal Cove launched it newly-designed Bootlegger Bar, which is crafted to mimic the traditional palapa-style dwelling that once graced the Crystal Cove Historic District. With its thatched roof and cedar paneling, The Bootlegger Bar adds some whimsy to this scenic seaside landscape as well as some much-needed space for people waiting up to two hours for a seat at the takes-no-reservation Beachcomber Café. Bootlegger Bar guests can enjoy sipping on a Gilligan’s Island-style tropical cocktail in a coconut-shaped cup while noshing on chef Chris Juers’ signature appetizers, such as shrimp Vera Cruz or the refreshing and crispy ahi tacos. The bar accommodates up to 37 people and is open daily through lunch and dinner. The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove, Crystal Cove State Park, 15 Crystal Cove, Newport Coast, 949-376-6900.

Dean & DeLuca to Arrive in FashionIsland
Known as the Rolls-Royce of gourmet retail, Dean & DeLuca is set to open a Fashion Island location in 2009. The preliminary design of this two-story space shows a Soho-style food hall, which will offer prepared foods, fresh produce, artisan cheeses, specialty meats and fresh seafood. Sources say this Dean & DeLuca store will also feature a wine department specializing in hard-to-find bottles from some of the best vineyards in California. A café and wine bar with indoor and outdoor seating is also planned. www.deandeluca.com.

First Class Wine Flights at Economy Prices
A cosmopolitan café and deli, Lucca Cafe in Irvine’s Quail Hill Village Center is offering international flights: first-class wine flights at economy prices. Sommelier Joe Lotko, who recently joined the Lucca team, will be in the dining room five nights a week for fall wine tastes from different wine regions, beginning at 5:30 p.m. These relaxed wine tastings are accompanied by Lucca Café’s new Aniata cheeses for $25 per person. Lucca Café, Quail Hill Village Center, 6507 Quail Hill Pkwy., Irvine, 949-725-1773.

Get Happy at Opah
Opah Restaurants have introduced an afternoon happy hour at all three locations (Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita). Held Sundays through Thursdays from 3 p.m.-6 p.m., the happy hour features half-priced appetizers at the bar or on the patio. Some of the starter selections include chef Marc Cohen’s signature tower of parmesan sweet potato chips with chipotle ranch dip and “bang bang” rock shrimp served with plum sauce and chili oil. Opah, The Town Center Aliso Viejo, The Town Center Rancho Santa Margarita, The Marketplace Irvine, www.opahrestaurant.com.

Infusion Nation
Need a great Christmas gift for under $10? OC-based 267 Fruit Infusions makes all-natural, ultra-premium alcohol infusions in your price range. Think of infusions like cranberries and vodka, mangos and rum or chili peppers and tequila. The “no mix, just chill and pour” philosophy of 267 Infusions piques our interest, as do the drop-dead gorgeous bottles. 267 Infusions is a certified OU company, so the bottles are completely kosher for Hanukah celebrations. For more information, call 973-357-5533.

Splashes Gets a Facelift
The famed Splashes restaurant at Laguna Beach’s Surf & Sand Resort has just completed a $6 million renovation. The restaurant, which sits just 20 feet from the Pacific Ocean’s crashing waves, has a new look with rich woods, modern furniture and a 300-bottle wine display in a custom-built cabinet. Also new is chef Lewis Butler’s dinner menu with his signature “American coastal cuisine.” Splashes, Surf & Sand Resort, 1555 Pacific Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949-497-4477.

On-The-Go Lifestyle
LiveOnTheGo.com has debuted in Orange County as a one-stop-shop for ordering takeout meals from more than 120 restaurants in the area, including Pasta Bravo, Tradition by Pascal, Avanti Café, Panini Garden & Bistro and Quizno’s. Visit www.kudzuinteractive.com to place orders for personal and business meals.

Cooks in Your KitchenSimple Gourmet, a culinary events company based in LA, is offering teambuilding and cooking parties all over Southern California. Chefs Melanie Barsuk and Taji Marie come to your home kitchen to teach cooking techniques in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Or, if desired, they get the participants involved in some friendly Iron Chef-style competition. The chefs also teach an all-day “culinary boot camp” for those who want to learn cooking basics in a jiffy. There are also seasonal classes, such as a holiday gingerbread workshop, Easter egg decorating and cupcake making sessions. Classes tend to highlight seasonal and locally-grown produce and food products. Simple Gourmet, 310-318-6464, www.simple-gourmet.com.

Rendezvous for LunchRendezvous, an elegant restaurant located at San Juan Capistrano’s train depot, is now open for lunch Wednesdays through Sundays starting at 11:30 a.m. Guests can dine al fresco at lunch or dinner on the restaurant’s newly-opened patio. We can’t wait to try chef Peter Arachovitis’ seasonal and contemporary take on the midday meal. Rendezvous, San Juan Capistrano Train Depot, 26701-B Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano, 949-496-1006.

Sapphire Adds Starr Power
Starr Cornwall, formerly maître de fromage at Montage Resort & Spa’s interactive cheese gallery, has recently been named cheesemonger at Sapphire Pantry, the gourmet shop adjacent to Sapphire Laguna. Working with Sapphire Laguna’s chef Azmin Ghahreman, Starr is working to expand the store’s international cheese vault by introducing rare and hard-to-find varieties. Starr is also available to assist customers with cheese selections as well as to host special tastings and workshops. She is also available for collaborations on wine and cheese pairings with Peter Neptune, Master Sommelier at Sapphire Laguna. In addition, Starr offers an ever-changing cheese selection on the restaurant’s seasonal menu. Sapphire Pantry, 1200 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949-715-9888.

Menu of The GodsAmbrosia restaurant, which is located on the second floor of the decadent OC Pavilion theatre, is offering a new summer menu. Created by chef Michael Rossi, the contemporary Euro-Cal menu features new starters such as the sunflower tempura Chesapeake Bay soft shell crab and braised Berkshire pork belly. Seasonal entrées include Colorado lamb chops, hand-harvested sea scallops and Hawaiian yellowfin tuna. Ambrosia, 801 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714-550-0811.

Lucky Locals
Through the "2007 Dine Around Costa Mesa" promotion, Orange County residents can receive two $10 lunch certificates and two $20 dinner certificates to enjoy at many of Costa Mesa's leading fine dining establishments and casual restaurants. Diners need only call 866-918-4749 to register to receive by mail the certificates and a color mini menu featuring the participating restaurants, which include Leatherby’s Café Rouge, Chat Noir, Pinot Provence and TerraNova. Certificates are limited to one per household and the offer runs through September 30.

Five Crowns Adds Small Plate MenuFive Crowns, a Coronal Del Mar fine dining institution, continues to renovate its offerings with a new small plates menu and accompanying half-bottle wine and Champagne selections. Some of the new small plates include a ravioli of St. Pete’s bleu cheese with orange-glazed pears in a brown butter balsamic glaze, or seared foie gras with Turkish figs and caramelized baby leeks in a pinot noir reduction. Five Crowns, 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona Del Mar, 949-760-0331.

Lucca LuccaLucca Café, which is located in the Quail Hill Village Center off Irvine’s Shady Canyon Drive, is now offering a summer dinner menu as well as one of OC’s only true “antipasto tables.” Chef-owner Cathy Pavlos says she scours local farmers’ markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays for the freshest produce, such as zucchini blossoms which she will serve stuffed with four kinds of cheese. In addition, this Euro-Cal bistro has introduced its Lucca2Go dinners for pick up between 4 p.m.-7 p.m. (48 hours advance notice required). Lucca Café, Quail Hill Village Center, 6507 Quail Hill Pkwy, Irvine, 949-725-1773.

Friday Surf and Turf Nights at Palm Terrace
Enjoy alfresco dining and surf sounds on the Palm Terrace patio at The Island Hotel Newport Beach every Friday night from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. through Labor Day. Executive chef Bill Bracken has created a “Chilled Surf and Grilled Turf” menu that includes chilled prawns, lobster and crab claws, seared ahi tuna and oysters on the half shell, Prime New York steak, lamb chops, jidori chicken thighs, and pork baby back ribs. “S’Mores Made to Order” are available to satisfy sweet tooths. To accompany the evening, The Surftones will perform the greatest hits of the early 60s and favorite California surf songs by The Beach Boys, The Ventures and The Safaris. The tab for “The Surf Is Now Up” experience is $69 per person. Palm Terrace, The Island Hotel Newport Beach, 690 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, 949-760-4920.

Summer Sundays at The BalboaBay Club
Sundays during summer can be celebrated two ways at Newport’s Balboa Bay Club & Resort: with a new European breakfast buffet ($30 per person) from 9:30a.m.-1 p.m. and a buffet barbeque ($28 adults, $16 children) at 5 p.m. on the Duke’s Place patio. Duke’s Place, Balboa Bay Club & Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949-645-5000.

King’s Hawaiian Contest
King’s Hawaiian, makers of sweet and savory breads and dinner rolls, is holding a vacation sweepstakes through Oct. 31. Called “Grill Hawaiian Style,” the contest prize is a one week all-expenses-paid trip for four to Hilton Waikoloa Village. Winners also enjoy a by-the-shore feast prepared by Hilton’s chef Kenny Omiya. Visit www.kingshawaiian.com for rules as well as summer grilling tips and recipes.

Hamamori Update
Master chef James Hamamori’s upcoming ultra-modern sushi restaurant bearing his name is now scheduled to open in October. Located in the former Bangkok Four space in South Coast Plaza’s Macy’s Home Store Wing,Hamamori will offer a blend of New York and Las Vegas with an oasis-like underwater lounge as well as a cocktail bar, sushi bar and dining room.

Goodell Madness
They're back! Just when you thought husband-and-wife restaurateur duo Tim and Liza Goodell were out of the OC restaurant scene, think again. In a complicated plan involving several restaurants and even a Hollywood producer, the Goodells have announced they are taking over Newport's The Arches restaurant, remodeling it through the summer and reopening in the autumn with an as-yet-undisclosed name and concept. Two investment partners in the new space include movie producer Joseph McGinty Nichol (aka McG), the man behind the Charlie's Angels movies and The O.C. television series, and real estate developer Chris Brigandi. We are hoping the Goodells don't open another famed restaurant like Aubergine or Troquet only to close it down just when we have added it to our fine dining repertoire. And in a development offering an amusing coincidence, Dan Marcheano, the former owner of the 85 year-old restaurant, is planning to relocate The Arches as a “beach bistro” concept in the former Aubergine space in Newport’s Cannery Village.

A Tisket A TasketSapphire Pantry, the brainchild of Sapphire Laguna's chef Azmin Ghahreman, offers three picnic baskets for the summer months: Mediterranean, Wine Country and California Coastal. The baskets come filled with Ghahreman's favorite ingredients from all over the world–freshly-baked breads, artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, savory relish items, salads, sandwiches and desserts. Refreshing beverages, such as a white peach sangria or French lemonade, are made on site and bottled. Wines can be paired from Sapphire Pantry's international inventory. Basket prices range from $65-$80. For $15 more, the basket, plates, napkins and utensils are included. To order, call Sapphire Pantry at least 24 hours in advance. Sapphire Pantry, The Old Pottery Place, 1200 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949-715-9889.

Spring Cleaning at Five CrownsFive Crowns, a Corona del Mar institution with a traditional European bent, has unveiled its new menu of light and contemporary entrées. Chef Dennis Brask consulted with Ryan Wilson from San Francisco's famed Quince restaurant to modernize some menu offerings by combining locally grown ingredients with exotic flavor profiles. Our favorite new menu item is the “free form” lobster ravioli in a vanilla bean sauce. Five Crowns, 3801E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949-760-0331.

New Steakhouse in TownSilvera’s Steakhouse, sister restaurant to Tuna Town in downtown Huntington Beach, is slated to open in May. Chef Sabre Kennedy, who was mostly recently the chef at Landmark Steakhouse in Corona del Mar, heads up the kitchen.

Shop Till You Dine
Fine dining guru Charlie Palmer has announced he will open a restaurant at South Coast Plaza’s new Bloomingdale’s. The restaurant is slated to open this winter with Amar Santana as executive chef.

Eye CandyThe
Anaheim White House and its charismatic
owner Bruno Serato have just released a cookbook. Titled “Temptation
at the White House,” the 140-page color pictorial combines
the sensuality of food and fashion. Each recipe and accompanying
food shot gets paired with a provocative picture of a leading
male model. One of these is film star Raoul Bova, best known
for heating up the screen with actress Diane Lane in “Under
the Tuscan Sun.” To pre-purchase “Temptation at
the White House”, visit www.anaheimwhitehouse.com.

Wasa Comes to South Coast Plaza
Master sushi chef James Hamamori of Wasa fame has plans for a modern restaurant and bar at South Coast Plaza. Slated for a May opening, this restaurant in the former Bangkok Four space in the Macy’s Home Store Wing will offer a blend of New York and Las Vegas, complete with an underwater oasis-like lounge as well as a cocktail bar, sushi bar and dining room.

Palm Court Changes NamePalm Court, the award-winning dining room at The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington Beach, is changing its name this spring to Shades. This new identity comes at a time when this property is being renovated into a luxury boutique hotel. Shades (formerly known as Palm Court), The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714-845-8444.

Half
Off at Happy Hour
One of the best deals in central county is the new happy hour at
Ambrosia restaurant, located inside the artfully-decorated OC Pavilion.
Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., Ambrosia
offers half off on appetizers and cocktails. Ambrosia, 801 N. Main
St., Santa Ana, 714-550-0811.

Fresh
Picks of the Week
South Coast Farms, an organic farm in San Juan Capistrano, now has
a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program. Orange County residents
can pick up a weekly basket of fresh, organic produce direct from
South Coast Farms at several locations in San Clemente, Capistrano
Beach, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa. Cost: $28-$35.
To sign up, call Rebecca or Vanessa at 949-661-9381.

Beverage
Selections Run DRYThe
Montage Resort & Spa is offering an alcohol-free beverage
menu throughout the resort featuring a new line of sodas from DRY.
The sodas are concocted from exotic fruits and flowers such as lemongrass,
rhubarb, kumquat and lavender. Other non-alcoholic selections include
specialty cocktails, iced teas and elixirs. The Montage Resort &
Spa, 30801 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949-715-6420.

Celebrating
California Citrus
During a recent trip to Japan, Studio chef James Boyce was inspired by the different ways Japanese cuisine
pays tribute to the beauty and complexities of citrus fruits. So,
he came back and created flavorful flights of cocktails and small
plates that celebrate California specialty citrus. Served at the
bar and communal table, Studio’s California citrus tasting
menu offers a fruit-specific tasting menu. Guests can enjoy the
featured flights ($40 each) or sample any beverage or dish individually
($14-$20). Menu changes seasonally or upon availability. Studio,
30801 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949-715-6420.

American
in Paris ExperienceFrench
75 Brasserie and Rouge have added live entertainment to their roster. With an expanded
lounge area at Rouge and the installation of grand pianos at both
establishments, the restaurants are now primed for appearances by
local and Los Angeles-based jazz vocalists and musicians. Live music
is scheduled Thursday-Sunday nights at French 75 and Wednesday-Saturday
nights at Rouge. While you listen, enjoy specials like steak frites
from the summer dinner menus as well as “Bubbly Hour”
Monday-Friday, featuring carafes of wine at glass prices and half
off signature champagne cocktails. Rouge, 327 Newport Ctr. Dr, Newport
Beach, 949-640-2700; French 75 Brasserie, 13290 Jamboree Rd., Irvine,
714-573-7600.

Lighter
Lunches at French 75French
75 has added an assortment of lighter, healthier alternatives
to its lunch menu, with an emphasis on “freshness, variety
and convenience without compromising on taste.” Guests can
order a trio of daily composed salads; a “Le Petit Bistro”
lunch featuring smaller portions of soup, salad, homemade Parmesan
chips and half a sandwich; a soup-and-salad duet; and other new
options including ahi tartare and walnut-crusted salmon salads.
French 75, 13290 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, 714-573-7600.

Just
for the Zov of it
Owner and chef Zov Karamardian of the beloved OC-based Zov
Bistro has released a cookbook where she shares her favorite recipes and culinary memories. Just
a taste of what to expect? Crab and shrimp phyllo triangles, coconut
beef stew with cilantro and mint and bulgur pilaf with garbanzo
beans and toasted pita are only a few of the many Mediterranean-inspired
dishes.

Changing
up the RitzThe
Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point has undergone serious
changes this past year, first by closing The Dining Room for revamps,
then reopening it as Restaurant 162'. Now the oceanside
resort has closed its other restaurant, The Terrace, and its chef
Joel Harrington will jump over to guide 162' during the transition.
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, One Ritz-Carlton Dr. (Pacific Coast
Hwy.), Dana Point, 949-240-2000.

Mina’s
Tavern at St. RegisStonehill Tavern, led by chef Michael Mina, will
replace Aqua at the St.
Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point. Set to open
in February 2006, Stonehill Tavern will feature modern American
cuisine in an elegant, yet casual and comfortable environment. Dishes
will include organic whole fried chicken with roasted vegetables
and suckling pig with root vegetables, truffle sauce and wild arugula.
1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, 949-234-3200, www.stregis.com.

Goetz
Dishes for Chat Noir
Yvon Goetz just completed Phase I of his much-anticipated overhaul
of David Wilhelm’s French menus. Chat
Noir, formerly known for its jazz and super-cool ambience, now
offers some pretty fantastic seasonal French creations too. New
items include a grilled veal chop and grilled pork tenderloin. Nightly
specials are also on offer. Chat Noir, 655 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa,
714-557-6647.

Heading
Down South
Tim and Liza Goodell, the dynamic duo behind Meson
G on Melrose Avenue, are opening a second Red Pearl
Kitchen in San Diego (yes, San Diego). The chef of the
first Red
Pearl Kitchen in Huntington Beach (412 Walnut Ave., 714-969-0224),
Binh Truong, will go down to the Gaslamp district to oversee the
opening of the new restaurant in the summer. Red Pearl will take
its place in a new mixed-use development at the corner of Fifth
and J Streets with retail stores on the street level and living
quarters above.

Jazz Up Lunch
Want a little jazz with your lunch? Ambrosia, located inside the
decadently-decorated OC Pavilion, serves an express lunch 11:30
a.m.-2:30 p.m. every Tuesday-Friday. The Chris Williams jazz trio
plays on a small stage in this romantic eatery while professionals
nosh on a three-course meal in 30 minutes for $30. Ambrosia, 801
N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714-550-0811.

Prix
Fixe Lunch for $27
Another power lunch spot is at The Island Hotel’s Pavilion restaurant. Chef Bill Bracken has created the Quick Fix Lunch, a
two-course prix fixe menu for $27 with service in under an hour.
Here, lunch goers can start with either a light salad or a healthy
soup. The second course features the chef’s daily special,
which includes vegetable accompaniment. Pavilion, The
Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, 949-760-4920.

Camp
Out at The Farm
One of the best things to do on a lazy Sunday morning in OC is to
attend the new Farm & Art Market at the CAMP (thecampsite.com).
Located in so-called SoBeCa, the outdoor market is held 9 a.m. -1
p.m. each Sunday, featuring certified California-grown produce,
fresh cut flowers, local artisans and live music. The Farm &
Art Market at The CAMP, 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-966-6661.

Fall
Into AutumnBalboa
Bay Club chefs Josef Lageder and Yvon Goetz have created a fall
menu at the resort’s First
Cabin restaurant. The seasonal offerings include both European-style,
cold-weather specialties and American favorites such as a Tuscan-style
cannellini bean soup, winter greens in a warm bacon-raspberry vinaigrette
or a hazelnut-crusted venison medallions surrounded by a huckleberry
sauce. First Cabin, The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, 1221 W. Coast
Hwy., Newport Beach, 949-645-5000.

Gayot's
Annual AwardsStudio,
helmed by the masterful chef James "Jimmy" Boyce,
not only garnered the top score (17/20) in OC, but was also
honored as one of the nation's Top
40 Restaurants. Chef Boyce's Cal-Mediterannean cuisine always
tastes better in the handsome Craftsman-style restaurant he
helped design, which just happens to be perched atop one of
Laguna's most picturesque coves..

Eat
Like a Star
NutriFit, a Los Angeles-based gourmet meal delivery service, has
expanded its delivery area to include Orange County. Now OC receives
the same amenities that celebrities such as Charlize Theron, Reese
Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe, Owen Wilson, Angelina Jolie, Uma Thurman
and Will Ferrell love about the L.A. program—customized and
individually tailored healthy meals, snacks and desserts delivered
fresh three times per week. Reaching as far south as Mission Viejo
and as far east as the I-5 corridor, the meals are delivered from
their kitchen in Huntington Beach. Call 800-341-4190 or visit www.nutrifitonline.com.

Mel’s Diner Drives Into OC
Remember Mel’s Drive-In from “American Graffiti,”
George Lucas’ classic 1973 film about 1950s America? Well,
Mel’s is coming to OC early next year. Located in Seal Beach’s
landmark, space age-like Parasol building, Mel’s will offer
the same hamburger-and-fries menu as its seven other locations in
L.A. and San Francisco.

Artistic
Arrangement
Costa Mesa’s Wyndham Garden Hotel is offering a parking, dinner and cocktail package for those attending
performances at the nearby Orange County Performing Arts Center.
Located directly across the street from the new Renee and Henry
Segerstrom Concert Hall, the Wyndham’s “Theatre
Night” package includes free self parking or $8 valet
parking with a minimum $50 purchase at the hotel’s TerraNova
restaurant. Reservations are required. Wyndham Garden Hotel,
3350 Ave. of the Arts, Costa Mesa, 714-751-5100.

Edible
Island SlidesRuby’s Diners and King’s
Hawaiian, the producers of Hawaiian sweet breads and
dinner rolls, have teamed up to create three new “island
sliders,” which are served as a combination plate with
a side salad and fries. We recently tried all three flavors
and were pleasantly surprised at the flavorful American Kobe
beef slider, which comes smothered in grilled onions. There’s
also the “three little pigs slider” (pulled pork
in barbeque sauce) and the crab cakes slider. Ruby’s Diners,
various Orange County locations.

Chef
Shuffle

Jean Pierre Dubray, the executive chef at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, has been named executive chef of The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast. A native of France’s Loire Valley, Dubray came to the United States to be part of the opening team of La Vie en Rose in Brea and later was named the first dining room chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. He will be responsible for The Resort at Pelican Hill’s culinary offerings, comprising Pelican Grill (the signature restaurant at the Pelican Hill Golf Club), Andrea (Northern Italian cuisine), a poolside grill and bar, the resort’s pastry and bakery operations, room service, and catering and special event services. Dubray starts March 17. The resort, located between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, opened the Pelican Hill Golf Club in November 2007; all other components–128 bungalows and 204 villas, a spa with 22 treatment rooms, and more restaurants–will open in fall 2008.

Chef John Garcia has taken over the kitchen for Restaurant 162’ at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. We were highly impressed with executive chef Rob Wilson’s cooking, so we are hoping chef Garcia brings to the table the same freshness and innovation. Garcia is formerly a chef at San Diego’s Hotel Del Coronado and Chicago’s Park Avenue Café. Restaurant 162’, Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, One Ritz-Carlton Dr., Dana Point, 949-240-2000.

Chef Lauren “Lulu” De Rouen has taken over the kitchens at Leatherby’s Café Rouge, the ultra-modern Patina Group restaurant inside the Henry and Renée Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Chef Stephane Beaucamp has resigned from his post at Kantina in Newport Beach with no word on where he will land next.

Chef Mark Gold has left Leatherby's Café Rouge, the highly acclaimed restaurant located inside the Segerstrom Concert Hall. The Patina Group has promoted Tim Guiltinan to the top spot.

Chef Ronnie Arnold, formerly of Laguna’s hush, is now the chef de cuisine at Motif, the casual restaurant insideThe St. Regis Monarch Beach. Chef Ashley Ewart has taken over the kitchen at hush.

Chef Katie Averill,
formerly of Mirabeau in Monarch Beach, is now a culinary arts
instructor at The Art Institute-Orange County. She heads up the
Institute’s new “Art of Cooking” and “Baking & Pastry” diploma programs, which begin April 2nd. These two accelerated four-quarter programs focus on developing cooking, baking and pastry skills in American regional food. For more information, call 888-549-3055 or visit www.artinstitutes.edu.

Chef Bruce Logue, who recently cooked for Mario Batali’s Babbo in New York City, is now the executive chef at Vivace,
the fine dining restaurant at Carlsbad’s Four Seasons Aviara. Chef Logue stresses seasonal cooking for
what he dubs “interpretive regional Italian cuisine."

Chef Bill Bracken, most recently serving as the executive
assistant manager of food and beverage at The
Peninsula Beverly Hills, has been named the executive chef of
the newly renamed The
Island Hotel Newport Beach (formerly Four Seasons Newport Beach)
where he will oversee the Pavilion,
The Gardens Lounge and Café, banquet services and 24-hour
in-room dining.

Jim
Bellino is the proud new owner of Newport Beach's Margaritaville.
Community support runs high, and locals look forward to seeing what
he'll do with this popular Mexican restaurant. Margaritaville, 2332
W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949-631-8220.

Dorian Rommel has recently been appointed as the
director of food and beverage at The
St. Regis Resort Monarch Beach. Rommel, who is responsible for
all culinary events, brings experience from a host of luxury hotels
here and in Europe, including the Sheraton Hotel & Conference
Centre in Frankfurt, the Dorchester
Hotel in London and The Pierre and The
Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

Alessandro
Serni has been named executive chef at Vineyard Rose. Located
at Temecula’s South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, Vineyard
Rose serves Mediterranean-style cuisine. Italian-born Serni, who
most recently was executive chef in charge of banquets and special
events at Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort, hopes to make the menu
at Vineyard Rose more wine friendly. Serni has also held posts at
Four Season Aviara Resort in Carlsbad and San Diego’s award-winning
Vivace.

David
Man, formerly of Troquet and most recently Aubergine, has
found a home at The
Island Hotel’s Pavilion restaurant. Chef Man says he will use his formidable contemporary
cuisine talents mostly at dinner, hopefully adding some of his signature
items to executive chef Bill Bracken’s already
decadent dinner menu. We are hoping for the speedy return of chef
Man’s Stilton bleu cheese soufflé with white port cream.

Brian
Pekarcik has been elevated from executive sous chef to
executive chef at Arterra restaurant in the San Diego Marriott Del Mar. Pekarcik continues
to work closely with consulting chef Bradley Ogden of Lark Creek Restaurant Group to maintain Arterra's tradition of
using only the highest quality produce and ingredients to create
farm-fresh, seasonal dishes. One of Pekarcik's signature dishes
is a duo of veal that includes marinated tenderloin and chipotle-glazed
meatloaf with Chino Farms roasted vegetables and Madeira essence.

Chef Yves Fournier has relocated from The Hyatt Regency
Irvine’s celebrated 6ix
Park Grill to a position as executive sous chef at The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach (formerly The Hyatt Newporter).
Chef Fournier says he wants to bring more prominence to the cuisine
at this resort, which hasn’t been known for its food and beverage
offerings.